Building a strong professional network is one of the most valuable investments you can make in your career development. For Ph.D. students and postdocs, connections with alumni, faculty, and professionals can open doors, provide clarity, and accelerate your path forward. At the Office of Career Strategy, we encourage you to dedicate time and energy to cultivating meaningful professional relationships. Networking isn’t only about finding a job. It’s about building a community that supports your growth and long-term success.
The Power of Connections
Studies show that the majority of professionals view networking as critical to their career growth. It can help you:
- Gain Insider Insights: Learn about career paths, job functions, and workplace cultures directly from practitioners in the field.
- Build Your Mentorship Team: Identify mentors who can offer guidance, feedback, and encouragement throughout your academic and professional journey.
- Sharpen Your Communication and Interviewing Skills: Practice articulating your research, interests, and goals—skills that are essential for interviews and collaboration.
- Access Hidden Opportunities: Many job openings are never posted publicly. Networking can put you on the radar for roles that are filled through referrals and personal recommendations.
Get Started
A professional network isn’t built overnight. The earlier you start, the more confident and connected you’ll feel when it’s time to make career decisions. Whether you’re just beginning your program or preparing to jump into a job search, networking is a productive activity that can be critical to your success.
- Explore our networking tips
- Create a LinkedIn profile and explore LinkedIn’s Yale alumni page to see where alumni with similar skills and interests work—and what roles they’ve pursued in their careers
- Sign up for Yale Cross Campus (YAA’s alumni mentoring platform), where you can connect directly with alums and apply for a mentor
- Conduct an informational interview
- Attend an OCS networking event meet and learn from employers
Want to explore other networking strategies? Make an appointment with an OCS adviser.
